Remove Syiem, Maharam residents urge Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council

STAFF CORRESPONDENT

SHILLONG: Alleging financial irregularities by the Syiem (Chief) of Maharam (traditional chiefdom), border inhabitants under the banner of 'Ka Synjuk Ki Khun Ki Hajar Hima Maharam' (Dong border) on Wednesday urged the KHADC (Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council) to remove Niandro Syiemiong from the post. They alleged that the present Syiem has usurped 75 per cent of the money meant for the land acquired for constructing a two-lane 18-miles road. The land belongs to private persons, as well as clan and community.

"We agreed in June 2019 to bestow all the responsibilities with the Syiem to do the needful. But to our utter surprise, everthing turned out to be against the traditions of land holdings in our area," stated the border residents' letter to the KHADC.

Moreover, opposing the Syiem's move to collect the 50 per cent of money which the land owners had received, the inhabitants termed this move of the Syiem as indicative of his ''greediness''. They emphatically declared in the petition, "We will not allow this to happen".

They further alleged of corruption even in the land aquistion deal. ''As per our information , the amount received by the Chiefdom for the 18-mile road was Rs 1,89,32,00. But the amount of Rs 1,10,00,00 -- which was given for construction of the stretch -- has not been accounted or audited,'' stated the complaint. They also accused the Syiem of ''issuing land pattas to some non-tribal residents''.

Against these backdrops, the border residents urged the KHADC to review the provisions of the Council on the ''Nomination and Election of Syiem, Deputy Syiem and Electors of Hima Maharam. They said that there is a need for the people to have a voice in electing their traditional chiefs. "Only such a step will will restrain the Syiem or his dorbar from taking arbitrary decisions on matters related to land belonging to the society," the border residents pointed out.

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